Nile crocodile caught at Roseville, California shopping center

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — After a while a crocodile has been turned over to officials who are pondering where to send the reptile a day after it was captured roaming around a Northern California shopping center.

Authorities say the croc escaped from a plastic container outside a pet store in Roseville. They think it had been abandoned by owners who didn’t want it anymore.

The animal had grown to 4-feet long, and its jaws had been wrapped shut with heavy-duty tape. There was a note identifying it as a Nile crocodile and requesting someone “call rescue.”

Police say no one was hurt Wednesday.

The animal has been placed with California Fish and Wildlife officials who say it’s eating as much rainbow trout as possible while they try to find it a long-term home, most likely a zoo.